FEMA Media Library
A continuation of the flow chart from the previous page. No longer in the response phase, this section is remediation. The first step is agent release confirmed; initial characterization activities. The next step is identify and prioritize areas, operations, and/or facilities for detailed characterization/remediation. The next step is conduct detailed characterization for remediation purposes (including information collected during first response phase). This step includes time since release, time since exposure, concentration of agent, extent of contamination, estimation of exposure, and characteristics of chemical agent (e.g., potential for re-aerosolization). The next step is to determine site-specific characteristics. This step is broken into three parts: enclosed/semi-enclosed, outdoor areas, and water. Enclosed/semi-enclosed examples are size of facility, ventilation systems, humidity, temperature, airflow, height of walls, and specific building materials. Outdoor area examples include meteorological conditions, building intakes, soil type(s), and surface run-off. Lastly, water examples include potential for contamination of drinking water facilities/sources, pH, redox potential, temperature, effects of dilution, and flow rate. The next three steps are evaluate initial containment and improve as necessary; conduct characterization environmental sampling and analysis; and. conduct environmental risk assessment for remediation purposes. The next step is to establish clearance goals. The flow chart continues on the next page.
